Study Desk

There was quite a commotion and Festus hunkered behind closed doors to talk to his advisors. Finally, he came out and said, "Then it's settled. You asked for Caesar? You'll get Caesar."

A few days later, King Agrippa stopped by with his sister Bernice to pay respects to the new Roman governor.

While they were there, Festus told him about his Paul problem. Festus said, "There's a cowboy I have locked up here. Felix left me to deal with him.

Festus rose and said, "King Agrippa and all you fine people! I bring you the man that Jews from here to Jerusalem want strung up by his neck until he is dead.

It is my opinion that Paul has done nothing to warrant the death penalty. But Paul asked to bring his case before Caesar, and I will be sending him to Rome as soon as I can.

But the question is this, what am I supposed to tell the emperor? What charge am I supposed to bring that will be both the truth and one that won't make me look like an idiot for sending him all the way to Rome? So I let you hear his story, King Agrippa. Maybe after you hear it, you can tell me how to proceed.

Agrippa turned to Paul and said, "Tell me your side of the story, cowboy. Tell it plain and true."Paul began his story,

And I am standing here today for one simple fact, I believe God will keep his promise he made to our ancestors.

I went so far as to torture them in the churches just to get them to curse his name. I chased them down like the dogs I thought they were, even to foreign cities!

They all said the Top Hand would suffer greatly and then be the first one raised from the dead. And this resurrection was God's way of showing Jews and mavericks his love."

Paul shook his head and said, "No sir, I ain't been in the locoweed. Everything I've said is true.

Paul shrugged his shoulders and said, "I care not if it is today or tomorrow. I just pray to God you and everyone else here might become like me . . . except for the chains that lay heavy upon me."

Then Agrippa shook his head and said to Festus, "He'd be a free man right now if he hadn't insisted on taking his case before Caesar."

But Paul pulled the snake off his hand and threw it in the fire. He kept working like nothing ever happened.

The ranch owner's father was sick in bed. He had a bad case of the scours and a fever that wouldn't break. Paul went in to see him and put his hands on the sick man in prayer. Then the old boy got up as if nothing had ever been wrong.

When we finally got to Rome, Paul was given a place to live all by himself, but a guard was placed at his door.

For two years, Paul taught out of his little rented shack. He welcomed any who came and never turned anyone away.

Everything we've got and everything we ride for comes from God through Jesus Christ. He gives us the opportunity to cowboy for him and gather the herd from all the nations who've said they believe in Him. We do it, not for ourselves or to say look at me, but only to bring honor to his name.

I serve God by spreading the good news of his son everywhere I ride. God knows y'all are

They know him, they just deny him. They take credit for his great work. Their thoughts are worthless and their minds filled with nonsense.